This archive report was first published on 13 September 2019.
On a typical morning in Limuru, bodaboda operators flock to Grace Wambui's house to collect orders for freshly baked bread. The 14th birthday cake Wambui baked for herself sparked a lifelong passion for cooking, which she honed during her high school days at Gathirimu Girls and later at Limuru School of Catering.
Currently employed at a Limuru hotel, Wambui has grown from waitstaff to food production, and in her free time, she runs a small bakery from her home. Using a small gas oven with a capacity of five loaves at once, Wambui bakes flavoured bread, including zucchini and carrot bread, which have become a hit among parents with young school-going kids.
Wambui's bread stands out due to its 1kg weight and the addition of ingredients like cinnamon powder, vanilla essence, eggs, and ripe bananas. She markets her products primarily through Facebook and word of mouth, with some success.
However, Wambui faces challenges, including the lack of a big oven and the recent government ban on polythene bags, which were previously used for bread packaging. Despite these hurdles, she remains optimistic about her future plans to own a catering company.
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